Background
The Transformational Prison Project (TPP) provides spaces where those who have been victims of violent crime—and those who have committed them—can come together and engage in dialogue to build understanding, empathy, and move toward a place of healing. TPP believes in creating a reparative and healing system rather than punitive. The organization’s genesis lies in the experiences of a small group of men serving life sentences who began exploring what restorative justice means. These incarcerated men made clear in practice that restorative justice was a healing and transformative process that could benefit many others, just as it has in other parts of the country and throughout the world.
Since its founding in 2013, TPP has become a leader in restorative justice programming. TPP’s reflective restorative justice programming aims to increase accountability for individual actions, past and present. This is achieved through deep contemplation and self‑discovery that involves developing increased empathy for self and others. Its core programming is comprised of:
- Restorative Justice Reading Groups that introduce the concept of restorative justice through reading, group discussion, and individual reflection.
- Victim Offender Education Groups that foster empathy and responsibility through mutually compassionate conversations between survivors and the men and women in prison.
- Yoga Mindfulness Restorative Justice Groups which is a reflective process to support ongoing healing and accountability among participants.
Position
TPP’s new Director will be tasked with taking the organization into its next phase of growth, building its programming, operations, and overall strategy. The Director will report to TPP’s fiscal sponsor, Community Works West, and will work in collaboration with TPP’s community partners, staff, volunteers, and regional authorities.
Responsibilities
Leadership and Management:
- Lead and manage programmatic operations and ensure that the expectations of stakeholders (funders, partners, constituents, clients, and community) are met; ensure ongoing quality of fundraising, community relations, and advocacy efforts.
- Serve as an effective partner to TPP’s fiscal sponsor, Community Works West.
- Lead, develop, and mentor the professional TPP team, maintaining an environment of inclusivity, collaboration, and community among the staff; develop and refine staff roles and responsibilities.
- Communicate a compelling vision based on the organization’s mission.
- Facilitate relationships with multiple stakeholders related to TPP’s work, including government officials and community groups.
- With strategic guidance from Community Works West, develop an Advisory Board to support, advise, and enrich TPP.
Program Development:
- Collaborate with TPP staff to implement and continually improve the organization’s programming; serve as the primary point of contact for each program/group location; build and maintain relationships with correctional officials.
- Identify opportunities for new programs and oversee the implementation of new initiatives.
- Train and support facilitators: design and oversee the facilitation of all program training, including all volunteers; ensure supervision and check‑in meetings.
- Bring a creative problem‑solving approach to program management while ensuring that the necessary planning is undertaken for smooth programmatic operations; determine program staffing needs and recruit as needed.
- Manage program evaluation efforts; establish goals to be shared and utilized organization‑wide for tracking results, successes, and opportunities for adjustment.
- Ensure that programs and services contribute to and reflect the organization’s mission, core values, and priorities.
- Develop near‑ and long‑term strategic priorities to advance and ensure long‑term program delivery and sustainability in line with TPP’s mission and core values.
- Monitor emerging community needs, network trends, and changes in legislation; recommend appropriate changes in strategy as needed.
Fundraising and Development:
- Serve as an ambassador for TPP, developing relationships with funders and other stakeholders.
- Report to funders on program progress; monitor public and private sector fundraising opportunities to ensure funding for existing and planned programs.
Community Relations:
- Establish and maintain relationships with agency partners to assure a full spectrum of services to clients (those who have been harmed and those who have harmed); serve as a leader and coalition‑builder for service provision.
- Build relationships with key constituents, including policy makers, government leaders, and community groups.
- Work closely with Community Works West and TPP’s bookkeeper to ensure the financial viability and sustainability of all programming and operations.
- Develop and monitor annual program budgets.
Qualifications
- Belief in and commitment to the mission and values of The Transformational Prison Project.
- Minimum of 7 years of progressive leadership experience in a nonprofit or related field.
- Lived experience, high emotional intelligence, patience, and humility.
- Experience with programs dedicated to trauma and experience working with individuals who have experienced incarceration.
- Ability to manage and motivate a team, and collaborate with a large group of volunteers.
- Successful relationship‑builder with a track record of developing new partnerships and attracting new funding and community partnerships.
- Ability to compellingly articulate TPP’s message to a broad range of constituents and the general public; strong oral and written communication skills, capacity to manage website.
- Financial acumen, experience overseeing budgets.
- Ability to be a champion for TPP’s work and fundraising efforts.
The Transformational Prison Project is an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a culturally diverse work environment that reflects the makeup of the communities we serve. People with diverse personal experiences are urged to apply, especially people of color, bilingual English‑Spanish speakers, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, and women.
This position description is based upon material provided by the Transformational Prison Project, an equal opportunity employer.
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